Over four hours of the last great achievement of prolific, Chilean-born master Raúl Ruiz (the Euro-TV version has six hours). A flowing tapestry of stories set in 19th century Portugal, from a classic novel, it involves mostly a young boy, a priest and a dense, Catholic, convulsing society that (like Visconti’s The Leopard) remains on the artistic side of operatic melodrama. There are experimental, form-bending touches typical of Ruiz’s huge body of work, and if you settle into its rhythms, you will be swept along by both the story and his imagination. (2011) — David Elliott
This movie is not currently in theaters.